Yunnan highlghts, Yunnan province, China tours

Day 1) Early morning, cross the border from Lao Cai, Vietnam to Hekou, the border city in China. Drive to Yuanyang and experience one of the high points of the trip. In the evening, the endless terraced rice fields glow like magic as they reflect all the colors of the setting sun. Weather permitting, it is a photographers dream. Overnight in Xinjie.

Day 2) Early morning start to see the beautiful cloud sea, and witness the miracle of morning light on a different area of the rice terraces. Later, drive north to the Stone Forest, a fantasic maze of limestone pillars, pathways, and pools, covering more than 300 square kilometers. Once a seabed, 200 million years ago, uplifting and erosion have created bizarre shapes, columns and pillars known as the Stone Forest. Overnight in Kunming.

Day 3) Morning flight to the fabled Shangri-la in northwestern Yunnan Province. Transfer to the hotel, then visit the nearby Zhongdian Tibetan Monastery completed in 1681.

During it's time of greatest prosperity, there were more than 3,000
monks in the temple, now only 700 live there. Later you'll continue to
drive on the Tibet-Yunnan road through beautiful mountain scenery near the Yangzi river deep into the mountains for the Dong Zhu Lin Monastery first built in 1667. The main hall in the center is a four story wood and earth structure surrounded by 82 tall trees. The monastery also enshrines a 6.8 meter high gilded bronze statue of a seated Buddha
of Qiangba and a 10.5 meter tall statue of Sakyamuni, both gifts from
the Sera Monastery in Lhasa. On the return to Shangri-la there will be
many photo opportunities along the upper Yangzi river. You'll have plenty of time to stroll through the Zhongdian Old Town where you may wish to have dinner, then in the evening go to the central square and enjoy the nightly dances of the local people. Overnight in Shangri-la.

Day 4) Before leaving Shangri-la, you'll visit a local Tibetan village, then

drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge, believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. Continuing the drive you'll arrive in
Lijiang where you'll spend time walking through the Lijiang Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Culture Heiritage
site. Overnight in Lijiang

Day 5) After breakfast and morning walk through Ancient Town while it is still quiet, you can visit Baisha Naxi village and Baisha Ancient murals. Baisha (white sand) is located north of Lijaing and was the center of the Naxi people before Kublai Khan made it part of his empire (1271-1368). The murals and frescos for which Baisha is also known date from the MIng Dynasty (1368-1644) and are unique because they combine Buddhism, Taoism, and Lamaism. In the afternoon, you'll visit the Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Culture Museum. Free time in the evening to explore. Overnight in Lijiang.

Day 6) Morning flight to Kunming. Departures or continue traveling.